South Carolina elections, 2012

Other elections
View elections by state and year:
Select a state:AlabamaAlaskaArkansasArizonaCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingSelect a year:2027202620252024202320222021202020192018201720162015201420132012Reset

The state of South Carolina held elections in 2012. Below are the dates of note:

• Signature filing deadline: March 30, 2012
• Primary date: June 12, 2012
• General election date: November 6, 2012

On the 2012 ballot			Click here for all November 6, 2012 Election Results
U.S. Senate	d	Preview Article
U.S. House (7 seats)	a
State Executives	d	N/A
State Senate (46 seats)	a	Preview Article
State House (124 seats)	a
Ballot measures (1 measures)	a	Preview Article

2012 Elections

Note: Election information listed on this page does not pertain to 2012 presidential elections. For more about Ballotpedia's areas of coverage, click here.
For election results in the 50 states, see our November 6, 2012 election results page

U.S. House

See also: United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina, 2012

Members of the U.S. House from South Carolina -- Partisan Breakdown
Party		As of November 2012	After the 2012 Election
	Democratic Party	1	1
	Republican Party	5	6
Total		6	7

State Senate

See also: South Carolina State Senate elections, 2012

Heading into the election, Republicans maintained partisan control in the state senate.

South Carolina State Senate
Party		As of November 5, 2012	After the 2012 Election
	Democratic Party	19	18
	Republican Party	27	28
Total		46	46

State House

See also: South Carolina House of Representatives elections, 2012

Heading into the election, Republicans maintained partisan control in the state house.

South Carolina House of Representatives
Party		As of November 5, 2012	After the 2012 Election
	Democratic Party	48	46
	Republican Party	76	78
Total		124	124

Ballot measures

See also: South Carolina 2012 ballot measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Admin of gov't	Requires governor to select running mate for lt. governor.	a

Eligibility to Vote

Primary election

See also: Voting in the 2012 primary elections

South Carolina was one of 16 states to use an open primary system. In a runoff election, however, voters had to stick with the same party they voted in for the first round of elections that year. Voters were required to register to vote in the primary by May 12, 2012, which was 31 days before the primary took place. (Information about registering to vote)

General election

See also: Voting in the 2012 general elections

The deadline to register to vote was 31 days prior to the election day, which in 2012 was October 6.

• Voter ID info
• Residency requirements: Resident of South Carolina, county and precinct.
• Same-day registration: None

Voting absentee

See also: Absentee Voting

According to the South Carolina Election Commission's website, only the following types of voters are eligible to vote absentee/by mail:

“

Persons with employment obligations which prevent them from voting during early voting hours for the duration of the early voting period, and during the hours the polls are open on election day. Persons attending a sick or physically disabled person which prevents them from voting during early voting hours for the duration of the early voting period, and during the hours the polls are open on election day. Persons confined to a jail or pretrial facility pending disposition of arrest or trial which prevents them from voting during early voting hours for the duration of the early voting period, and during the hours the polls are open on election day. Persons who will be absent from their county of residence during early voting hours for the duration of the early voting period, and during the hours the polls are open on election day. Persons with physical disabilities. Persons sixty-five years of age or older. Members of the Armed Forces and Merchant Marines of the United States, their spouses, and dependents residing with them (Learn more about procedures related to Military and Overseas Citizens). Persons admitted to a hospital as an emergency patient on the day of the election or within a four-day period before the election.

”

To vote absentee, voters must first request an application for the absentee ballot. Application requests can be made in person, by phone, or by mail. The absentee ballot application must then be completed and returned to the voter's county voter registration office by 5:00 p.m. at least 11 days before Election Day. Once completed, the ballot must be received by the county voter registration office by 7 p.m. on Election Day.

Voting early

See also: Early voting

South Carolina is one of eight states that allow early voting but require an excuse to vote early. Early voting begins as soon as ballots become available and ends at 5 p.m. the day prior to Election Day. To vote early, a voter needs to provide an excuse for why they will be unable to vote at the polls during normal voting hours. Those who qualify for an absentee ballot also qualify to vote early.

See also

• Statewide elections, 2012
• 2012 election dates
• Election result resources
• Voter guides
• State Blue Books
• State Poll Opening and Closing Times (2012)
• Voting in South Carolina
• Absentee voting
• Early voting